Camel’s Hair

Peek-a-boo is

the innocent art of surprise.

All it requires

is a pair of hands

covering a face, then

whipping those hands away

in one swift movement.

Of course,

the Father’s surprises are more

the masquerade variety.

He turns up in places

we’d never imagine

raises the dead

speaks through an ass

uses anglers to fish for men

and repeatedly chooses

the weak over the strong.

Surprise!

He sends messengers to alert us

but they are nobody’s

popular picks.

A few occasional priests?

Who can tell, considering

some behind masks

of unimpressive vagrants

like the one poorly attired

in camel’s hair

surviving on locusts and honey

and living where? The wilderness?

Hardly the neighborhood

of choice!

A new baptism and

an unexpected Baptizer

is on the way, says he.

And guess what?

This surprise is only

the beginning.

Well, come, Lord Jesus.

Your people are desperate for

the sacred surprise

of your glory, however

it may appear.

Mark 1:1–8